Giraffe are often considered the forgotten giants – and their decline has been largely overlooked. While everyone loves to see giraffe on safari, historically there has been little interest in their conservation, numbers and distribution. They were assumed to be everywhere in Africa, but the reality looks very different.
Only when the Giraffe Conservation Foundation started to draw attention to giraffe, interest slowly started to spark. Little was known about giraffe and the best kept secret of all was their number and distribution. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation was the first organization to systematically pull together giraffe numbers from all over Africa. By working with many researchers, contacting African governments and collating all available data on giraffe, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation started to gain a better understanding of the plight of giraffe. Based on the best available data at the moment, the current giraffe population estimate is approximately 117,000 individuals, representing a decline of nearly 30% in the past 35 years. Unfortunately, in some areas traditionally considered prime giraffe habitats, numbers have experienced a drastic 95% decline over the same period.
To establish a baseline for the giraffe’s conservation status in Africa, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation initiated a collaborative effort over a decade ago to compile historical and current data on giraffe numbers, distribution, and threats across their range. This initiative involved collaboration with African governments, NGOs, universities, the IUCN, and independent researchers.
This program provides a valuable framework and essential baseline for future giraffe research and conservation efforts in their natural habitats. Giraffe are iconic animals of Africa (and the world), contributing to tourism and serving as an economic draw card for the continent. This collaborative effort continues to refine our understanding of giraffe as keystone species and ensures their long-term survival in the wild.
